Canada Guide
Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Manitoba Children's Museum
Opening time: Sun– Thurs 9.30am–4pm, Fri & Sat 9.30am–6pm
Website: www.childrensmuseum.com
Price: $6.25
Housed in an 1889 rail maintenance shed, the Manitoba Children's Museum is a hands-on, state-of-the-art enterprise that appeals equally to adults. Five different sections cover aspects of history, science, nature and technology. A vintage steam-engine with a couple of Pullman carriages and a mail office is equipped with tickets, luggage, uniforms and mail; close by, bear, lynx and raccoon costumes are on hand for kids to don while they explore a huge model of an oak tree and its ecosystem. Visitors to the museum can be filmed and have their activities shown simultaneously on two huge video screens, with added optical effects. For older kids, the highlight is probably the fully functioning TV studio where they can experiment with lights and cameras; at certain times, staff conduct interviews with them on their views of current events, which are relayed by one of the local stations.